[bbfan1991]

A Finnish couple have won the country's annual wife-carrying competition for the third year running.

Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina Haapanen triumphed in the novelty race in Sonkajarvi yesterday, organisers have now confirmed.

The race saw male competitors having to sprint 250 metres, leap several hurdles and cross a water pool in the space of one minute, all while having their female partner's legs wrapped firmly around their heads.

Miettinen and Haapanen won the title for the third time in front of 6,500 spectators, besting their nearest rivals by less than a second.

Spoiler:

"The course was trickier this year due to the water obstacle, which was deeper," Miettinen said following the race, according to Yahoo News. "The weather conditions were also particularly tough, 30C is too much for me."

The couple claim that practising the course while wearing ski boots was the reason behind their repetitive success in the competition.

Miettinen and Haapanen are the first competing pair in the race's 16-year history to win a consecutive three times.